Camera and electrical flash-light attachment



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet I.

G. E. DAVIS. CAMERA AND ELEOTRIGAL FLASH LIGHT ATTACHMENT.

No. 421,484. Patented Feb. 18,1890.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. E. DAVIS. CAMERA AND ELECTRICAL FLASH LIGHT ATTACHMENT.

Patented Feb. 18,1890.

PIC-L2- zen of the United States, residing at Du-.

' UNITED, STATES.

, PATENT, OFFic GEORGE"E. DAVIS, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

CAMERA AND ELECTRlCAL FLAS'H-LlG HT-ATTACHMENT.

' srscmca'non forming part of utter. latent No. 421,4e4, dated February is, race.

Application filed larch 9,1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

lie it known thatl, GEORGE EJDAVIS, a citi buque, in the county of Dubuqne and State oflowa,have invented certain new and use- I fnl Improvements in Cameras and Electrical Flash-Light fAttachments therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as w ill enable others skilled in the art to which itv 'appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has for its object the prod notion of an electric burglar-detector camera, whereby aburglaror intruder entering a room, car, or vault where my invention is located will be immediately photographed, the working of the camera and the production of the flash-light being attained simultaneously by electrical connection.

The invention consistsbriefly, in a camera having an electrically-controlled shutter and an electrically-controlled flash-lightproducer.

The invention also comprises the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, F1 gure l is a din-grammatical view of a room, showing my invention located therein. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the camera. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the front sliding wallo'r section removed. Fig. 4 is a view of said wall, or section. Fig. 4" is a view of a modification. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view with parts broken away. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of my improved flash-light producer.

Referring to thedrawings, A designates the a the front compartment thereof, wherein the lens (d is located, and a the rear compartment provided with a hinged door a,'and a spring a for retaining therein an ordinary gelatine plate.

3 is the front wall of .the camera, the same being removably' secured in grooves b b. In the center of this wall is a'eircular opening 1 or aperture C, over the rear side of which fits adisk or circular shutter D, provided with Bordello. 902,547. 1 model.)

an upper extension d, fixed rigidly to a pulley or drum projecting from said wall. To this drumis secured one end of a chain or cord E,which, after being wound thercaround, is passed over a pulley e at one upper corner of wall B, and to its end is secured a weight connected to a spring e, as shown in Fig. 4'.

F is a swinging bar or arm pivoted at f to wall B, and at its outer end it has'a slightly bent hook or lug f, designed to enter a lower groove or notch f of a shutter D, and thereby hold the same over the opening C.

Two magnets G G are secured within the camera-box, adjacent the len s,-the samebeing attached toa bar g, secured to the central partition of said box. The magnets receive the electric current from binding-posts g g, to which wires g q are connected. The ofiice of these magnets is that/when the electrical circuit is closed they will attract bar or arm F, which serves as an armature, thus freeing the lugs f from contact with the shutter D,

spring-held chain or cord IE, will swing on its pivot, making one complete revolution, during which time the opening() is unobstructed and the lens will .be exposed. By this means a photograph or likeness of the intruder is secured, the light for which purpose is obtained by the means I will now proceed to de scribe.

means for obtaining the flash-light, the same consisting of a trigger I-I, pivotally secured between two studs or short posts h h of a plate 7t, and around the pivot h is wound a bent or coiled spring I, which bears against the under side of trigger l-I and on the plate h. The end of the longer arnii of this trigger is normally in contact with alng i on an armature-bar J, secured to a vertical bar or post hinged to plate It. This bar or post is normally held in a vertical position by contact of a lug on armature with the end of trigger 11.. A springj on a rod j, secured to plate It at one end, tends to draw away said bar or met, aud'by a not or shoulder g on said rod 7' the springj is set at a tension, almostovercoming or offsetting the function of trigger ll against lug t.

K K are two magnets secured to the right which, under the action of the weightedor At some convenient point is located the" e; or in lieu thereof said chain or cord can be angular end of plate h, and they also receive their currents through binding-posts 7; k, to which wires la are connected.

To obtain the flash-light, an ordinary paper or pecussion cap or cartridge is placed at the point L on plate It, and the same is surrounded by a small quantity of gun-cotton, and asprinkling of magnesium powder is also used. lVhen the circuit is closed, the magnets will attract armature-bar J, freeing the end of trigger II from lug i. spring I will cause the trigger to turn on its pivot and its short arm to come in contact with and eflfect the explosion of the percussion cap or cartridge. By this means a flashlight is secured.

In practice, the. wires 9 g and k k, which are in the same circuit, are connected with some suitable contrivance, such as an electric matting located at a door or window, where by the stepping of an intruder upon the mat will immediately complete the circuit, causing the armature J to be attracted by magnets K -K, thus freeing the trigger and through the operation of spring I effecting the explosion of the cap or cartridge and powder, producing atlash-light. Simultaneous there with the magnets G G. attract the bar F, permittiuggtlgfiishutter to revol'vekon its pivot, 30

and thus allow the entrance of the flash-light, resulting in the production of a picture or likeness of theintruderon the plate in the camera.

twill be seen that my invention is extremely simple, comprising as it does but few parts, and that as soon as the electric circuit is closed the lens of the camera is exposed and the flashlight is obtained, resulting in the production of a likeness of the intruder. The invention has been specially described in connection with its use for photographing burglars, as that is the field for which it is specially designed; but it may be usefully employed for other purposes, for flash photography in galleries and in dark and poorly lighted places; and it is to be distinctly understood that the use of the apparatus for any and all purposes for which it is adapted is within the scope of my invention and of this patent.

I claim as my invention 1. The herein-described improved electric The action oi elnet shutter, the magnets, the flash-light producer,

and the electric connect-ion, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described improved electric burglar-detector, comprising the camera having the circular opening, the pivoted shutter, the weigh ted or spring-held cord for operating the same, the armature-bar, the magnets, and the electric connection, substantially as set forth.

6. The herein described improved electric burglar-detector, comprising the-camerahaving an opening, the short stu'd, the shutter secured to said stud, the chain or cord also secured thereto and having a weight or spring at its outer end, the hinged armature or bar provided with :1. lug engaging a groove or notch of said shutter, the magnets, and the electric connect-ion, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the camera haw ing the electrically-controlled shutter, of the trigger, the armature for holding the same, and the magnets, substantially as set forth.

8. 'lhe combination, with the camera-having the electrically-controlled shutter, of the flash-light producer comprising the plate, the spring-pressed trigger, the vertical bar orpost, the armature, the magnets, and the electric connection, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. E. DA is.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES PLAISTER, ALEXANDER SIMPTOS. 

